0
    • Jun 17, 2020
    • 7 min read

How to Be Anti-Racist

Updated: Jul 16, 2020


When I first started this blog I made a goal to post once a week - every Tuesday. I'm late this week because I can't write about anything other than what we're all seeing all over social media. It doesn't feel right for me to talk about anything else.


Since the horrific murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and countless others, we are starting to have more real, uncomfortable, and necessary conversations about the destructive nature of systemic racism and white supremacy in our world.

Martin said he had a dream. But the nightmare of systemic racism is far from over.


Over these past 2 weeks, I've been doing a lot of reading and listening to podcasts about the topic of racism. I'll admit: I thought I was doing enough by believing in inclusivity. But I have quickly learned that it's not enough to just not be racist. And so I want to share with you what I've been learning and talk a bit about why this topic can be so uncomfortable and how to take responsibility as white people.


"If you're tired of learning about racism, imagine how tired you'd be if you had to experience it."

Lately I've been asking myself these questions:


  1. How can I be a thought leader and not know how to talk about this toxic mindset?

  2. How can I become the leader I want to be?

  3. Where is my place in this?

  4. Where do I stand?

  5. How can I be of service?

  6. What's needed from me?

  7. How does an enlightened mind think of all of this?

  8. What would be a pathway for an unenlightened mind?

  9. How do I plan on being part of the solution?

  10. How am I actively practising anti-racism?


My Experience with Racism


I grew up in a catholic school. Our classrooms were all white at the time. In the 7th grade, a black girl came to our school. She moved into a house just up the street from me.


I was slow to befriend her because I thought my dad would be mad at me if I was her friend.


This is called learned racism.


But the teacher placed us together in class and told me to help her if she needed it.

In no time we were best friends. We were inseparable the entire year and years to come.


I remember the first time I brought her home. My dad wasn’t home. My mom didn’t mind.


I remember kids at school bullied her for her colour. It really bothered me and when I confronted her about it, it seemed like she didn't care. She brushed it off and said that it was something she was used to. I remember feeling like it hurt me more than it hurt her. I remember confronting her and saying that she shouldn’t let people treat her like that. I couldn’t understand that this wasn’t the first time. And that the treatment I saw was “minor” compared to other racist acts she faced or would face.


I tried to stick up for her, but that just embarrassed her. She wanted others to be her friend and so I backed off. I had learned that it was better to not talk about it. It made her uncomfortable.

Being white feels like a lose lose situation. As a white person I can only learn of the affects of racism through watching it happen to people I care about. I will never be able to truly comprehend the pain and suffering in black communities.


As a young girl, I thought I was respecting my friend by not talking about racism. I wanted to take the backseat and stand behind her to support her and let her have the say and the space to speak. But she didn’t speak. And the racism continued.


"If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

Fast forward. Years later, I attended a mental health summit for youth leaders. A four day awareness training for mental health and youth leadership. I was a panelist and had to answer questions about mental health and self care.


On the third day of the summit, one of the presentations talked about mental health in black communities. A conversation about racism was started and I raised my hand to give my take on it. I said that it was our job as white people to fix the problems we created. One of the black girls stood up and said that it wasn’t our job to save them.


I completely understand her view.

As we open our eyes to the blindspots we have, we need to also be mindful of the saviour complex.

But it struck me.

The girl told me that it wasn’t my problem, that I could never understand what it was like and that I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion on it.


I understand her anger. She is the only one who can save herself. She’s the only one who truly understands what she’s been through.

And what can I do with such a lack of understanding? How can I truly know what racism feels like?


This leaves me feeling powerless and helpless especially with all the posts on social media.


The real question is: do I stand up for my friends? Do I stand infront of them to protect them from the ignorance? Or do I stand behind them, let them lead and support them? Tell them I have their back?


I've learned that the best and only approach is to stand beside my black siblings.


The worst thing we can do is nothing.


But we have not yet proved that we deserve a say at the racism table. As much as white people have been taught racism, black people have been taught not to trust us.


We need to prove ourselves before we expect them to let us speak up for them.


It's Not Enough to Not Be Racist


We must be Anti-Racist


Racism is a learned behaviour passed down through generations. It is ignorant to say that this mentality is in the past. Racism mentality is obviously embedded in our society. And if you don't see it, you are not paying attention.


We must first face the absolute fact of racism's existence and prevalence in our institutions.


It is our responsibility as adults to work to unlearn toxic behavior from previous generations.

What has been taught must be unlearned.


To unlearn this behavior we have to:


  • open our eyes to the horrific stories of black people worldwide

  • be willing to feel their pain

  • not turn away when it makes us uncomfortable

  • become aware of our privileges as white people

  • expose our own blind spots and chose to see clearer

  • have really hard conversations

  • let down our defensiveness

  • be willing to be wrong

  • focus on solution-based thinking

  • create healing and progress


Discomfort is necessary for growth

For awhile, I didn't talk about this because I didn't know how. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Even as I'm writing this I worry that people will think this is all I have to say on this topic.


I know now that its better to say the wrong thing and be called out on it than to not speak up at all.

This is how we grow.


These conversations are uncomfortable: yes.


But it is more uncomfortable to be black and living in America.


As we work to demolish the racist mentality, we need to make sure that our journey doesn't stop there.


Unfortuneately, our fight is a lifelong journey. We cannot afford to think for a second that its enough to not make racist jokes or to have a black friend.


As humans, we need to do more work to understand the broken relationship between white people and black people. The mistakes. The pain and suffering that we have caused both directly and indirectly.





Not A Black Person's Fight


This is not just a black person's fight.


White people created this problem both knowingly and unknowingly.

We have to be the solution.


Where to go from here as a white anti-racist


  1. Educate Yourself. Use the resources at the bottom of this page to learn more

  2. Learn how to talk about racism. Learn how to move past the discomfort.

  3. Explore your own blindspots and work to improve them.

  4. Learn about white privilage and how to act


White people are not emotionally strong enough to be able to empathize and feel the pain that black people have felt for way too long and so we turn away. We need to be emotionally stronger so that we can look. We need to be strong enough to open our eyes and to see the wounds our people have inflicted. It’s painful to take on so much guilt and responsibility. Its incredibly hard to let your blinders come off and take down your defenses. It takes an emotionally strong person to be able to look themselves in the eyes and say I’ve done something wrong.


But doing something wrong, does not mean you ARE wrong. We can’t take this guilt and pain and internalize it and think that we are bad people.

Because it’s not productive. It’s not true and its not the type of forward thinking that we need in order to be a part of the solution.

These acts of direct or indirect racism whether by neutrality or brutality, are every white persons responsibility. We need to own up to what we’ve done including not educating ourselves further. But we can’t get stuck there.

Our focus should be moving forward with anti-racism. Our mindsets moving forward need to be solution-based thinking.


How can we show black people that we deserve to be a part of the conversation?

How can we prove to them that we can have a say by saying the right things?




Where I stand:

I honestly believe that I can't solve this problem with just one blog post. I plan on creating more posts to educate people.


I am going to continue to learn more about my place in this and how I can better be a part of the solution.


I would like to call forth anyone who is willing to share with me their experience to better educate myself on racism.


I will continue to read books and listen to podcasts that expand my consciousness about racism (I know its not other peoples job to educate me but I still want to hear their story).


I want to study how to help people of colour with their mental health as it relates to racism.


I want to learn how to help people of colour heal these wounds.


I would like to be a part of leading other white people to better understand their own privileges and blindspots.


And most importantly I vow to never think that the fight is over.


I am becoming aware now that I have not done enough and I understand that I may never do enough. There is no anti-racist checklist or 5 steps to anti-racism to add to your morning routine. Ending racism is not a one-time event.


More than anything I want to be a part of a better tomorrow


Resources:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/us/mcmichaels-hearing-ahmaud-arbery/index.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/american-nightmare/612457/

https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/getting-white-people-to-talk-about-racism


https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVtYXJpZWZvcmxlb3BvZGNhc3QubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M/episode/ODE2MzU0ZGMtYzJmNS00ODk0LWIyOTYtOGVlOTkzM2MyMTNj?hl=en-CA&ved=2ahUKEwikzf2WsonqAhXVknIEHfLeCn8QieUEegQICRAE&ep=6

https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-ibram-x-kendi-on-how-to-be-an-antiracist/

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/how-to-be-an-antiracist/9780525509288-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Search_Books_Antiracist&gclid=CjwKCAjw_qb3BRAVEiwAvwq6Vj9btarYMQAP85H9l_xydN6ofYd0B4gCrFbbZ3f4Rp-gWVuRV59JExoCTCYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/white-fragility-why-its-so/9780807047415-item.html?s_campaign=goo-Search_Books_Antiracist&gclid=CjwKCAjw_qb3BRAVEiwAvwq6VvTf_NCRDz1vYf3lrDNhvJ5FUCy4RQqjpcY0dvCEHI22g2bgAKsZoxoCE3oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-tony-robbins-podcast/id1098413063?i=1000478130283



If you have resources you'd like to share please leave a comment so other people can see them too!



  • Spirituality
  • •
  • Relationships
25 views0 comments
    • May 26, 2020
    • 3 min read

Beginner's Guide to Moon Journalling

Updated: Jun 16, 2020


Step One: Download a moon phase calendar or search it on google and write down the dates of each phase.

Step Two: get an old notebook and answer the following prompts

OR

Click here to purchase our printable Guided Moon Journal


"If the Moon controls the tides, and our bodies are over 70% water, it makes sense that we feel her effects too." - Gabriela Herstik



New Moon

The moon rotates around earth and the earth revolves around the sun. When the Sun is behind the moon, it creates a shadow. From earth we see this shadow on the moon. This is called the New Moon. The first phase of the lunar cycle symbolizes beginnings.


The new moon is the first page of a chapter, a new dawn, a blank canvas. Also known as the dark moon, She is in an internal state as she faces the darkness within.


This is a perfect time to set goals and intentions and to invite new energy and conscious change into your life. Use the following journal prompts to dive in:


  • What are my deepest desires?

  • How do I truly want to feel inside?

  • What kind of life do I want to give myself?

  • What tools & resources do i need to express myself fully?

  • What energy do I want to put forward this lunar cycle?


Waxing Crescent

Still in its initial phases, the moon emits energies of renewal and refocus. It’s time to refine your vision. Get more specific. Building on the last phase, the waxing crescent asks you to prepare to that your goals have the best environment to materialize.


  • How can I get even clearer on my intention?

  • How can I track my progress?

  • How will I know when I've succeeded?

  • How will I feel when I've succeeded?

  • What is my next step?

First Quarter

This is a time of action. Take the first initial step to your dreams. Be mindful about what success looks like to you and how you will feel when you get there.


  • What obstacles am I facing?

  • How can I overcome these obstacles?

  • How do I feel about the steps I've taken?

  • Where have I succeeded already?

  • What have I learned already?

Waxing Gibbous

Reflect on the progress you’ve made. You may have experienced some challenges in moving towards your dreams. It’s important to practice perseverance here. Using course corrective strategies, refocus and re-strategize.


  • What am I attracting?

  • What energy am I putting forth?

  • How can I further commit to my intention?

  • How can I practice resilience?

  • How can I make things easier for myself?

Full Moon

The Full Moon’s energy is potent. This is a time to analyze what is preventing you from shining your full light. Its a perfect time for co-creation and manifesting spells. Using clear intention that we’ve built in the beginning phase, its time to let yourself have what it is you truly want.


  • What is preventing me from shining fully?

  • What would my life look like if I let myself shine?

  • What makes me feel whole?

  • What makes me feel full?

  • What is becoming illuminated in my life?

Waning Gibbous

Its important to continue to be honest with yourself about how your feeling even if you don’t like how it feels. As you continue towards manifesting your intention, release any negative beliefs of why you can have it. Build faith that even if you didn’t get exactly what you want the way you want it, doesn’t mean you won’t be given all you need.


  • What am I worried about?

  • What am I afraid of?

  • What's weighing me down?

  • Whats preventing me from moving forward with confidence?

  • How can I practice faith?

Last Quarter

Self reflection! What has worked this lunar phase? What hasn’t? What habits have you instilled that served you? Inhibited you? Take this time to bring this phase into completion, tying up lose ends and preparing to move forward in a new lunar cycle.


  • What about my life feels out of place?

  • What misguided ambitions do I have?

  • What have I learned this cycle?

  • How can I use what I've learned to create the best outcome?

  • If I could go back to the beginning of this lunar cycle what would I tell myself?

Waning Crescent

Reflect deeper on this cycle and use what you’ve learned to set even more specific goals and intentions for the next lunar phase.


  • How has my life changed this cycle?

  • How has my mindset shifted?

  • Where have I felt peace?

  • Where did I feel success?

  • How can I move forward with intention?


Click here to get your Guided Moon Journal!

  • Spirituality
  • •
  • Journalling
3 views0 comments
    • Apr 28, 2020
    • 4 min read

The #1 Daily Intention You Should Be Setting

Updated: Jul 16, 2020


Alignment


What is Alignment

My definition of alignment is when you are fully aware of how you want to feel and what to do to feel that way. It requires a deep understand of where you’ve come from and where you are going. Being spiritually aligned means you know and feel at one with a Higher Power that created you intentionally, and acknowledging that you have chosen this carnation to achieve a certain state, goal, or experience.

Align with Who You Are

There is a part of you that has always existed and always will beyond this lifetime. You came from somewhere and you will go back to that same place when you leave earth. We all come from this Life Source. The term for this Energy is so interchangeable it’s easy to get confused on what it actually is. Some people refer to it as Love, Source Love, The Spirit, The Universe, God, Heaven. Feel free to replace whichever term with one that feels the most peaceful to you in this present moment.


We all come from Love. Which means that we were all created with Love and therefore have love within us. Your Creator (Love) created you in His image (love). Aligning with love is where everything feels heavenly. Aligning with Love means acceptance, understanding, tolerance, defenselessness, trust.

Align with Your Desires

We all want the same thing: to feel good. It's easy to get trapped in the fixed mindset of “when I have x, y and z, then I will be happy, fulfilled, at peace. When you set an intention every morning to feel good, not only do you attract good feelings to you, you are also sending a direct message to your body, thoughts and feelings that you are prioritizing feeling good. Throughout the day and as you deepen this practise, every thought will shift to good feeling thoughts. When you feel stuck you can say “that doesn’t make me feel good, I give myself permission to choose again. I choose love”

Feeling good is the path. It's the way there, the intent, the focus, and feeling good is the ultimate end goal. When we lead with our end goal in mind, it's easier to see the necessary steps to get there.

Your soul has traveled across the universe to be here in this time period at this moment on purpose. You came here because you want to do something, feel something, learn something, or experience something. Envisioning what exactly it is you want to come into fruition is the key to manifesting it.

By beginning with aligning with source love, we can understand how we were designed to feel, how we truly want to feel, and set more specific intentions from there.




Aligning with love is both the path and the goal.

When we align with love we open ourselves to an infinite source of information and guidance that is always available to us. Though aligning with love may feel like it takes a lot of work, it's more of a release than a manifestation (which is why it's so powerful for our manifesting success).

Self-growth comes from both the intentional release of what you are not and the deep understanding of your highest truth. Alignment is about allowing yourself to experience the love inside you in its purity, and the active and constant decision to release that which does not align with your truest desires.

Aligning with Love is where the magic happens. By aligning with love we choose to take advantage of all of the inner wisdom and support that is easily accessible to each of us.



Every Morning When You Wake Up


Set this intention. Write it in a journal. Write it out 10 times on a piece of paper. Write it on a post it note and attach it to your bathroom mirror. Or simply say to yourself as you go through your morning routine.


It helps to pair this with an action that you already know makes you feel good such as a morning run, a morning mediation, or morning journalling.

Try these exercises to deepen your understanding of Alignment


1. Meditate

Sit comfortable in a safe space. Light sage or use essential oil. Play calming music or chants. And focus on your exhales.

Breathe deeply and let go of all the air fully. Think of the word Release.


Release resistance, release judgment, release expectations.


And push the air out of your lungs.


I choose to feel good.


Take a deep inhale and imagine yourself filling up with yellow light.


If it feels good, try this exercises using meditation beads.


2. Release with Humour.

Find something that you truly thinks hilarious, a funny meme or video, or a funny moment in your life.


LAUGH.

Im serious. Thats the exercise. Just laugh.

Wholeheartedly.


Laughing helps us release stagnant energy and truly helps us to heal what is not aligned.


What often happens is we unknowingly hold onto stagnant energies which is not aligned with feeling good. Feeling good is easy and it flows. Releasing the old energy and feelings makes room for the new good energy and feelings.

Its all about making being inside your body feel easy and light.

Use these Affirmations

It is my birthright to enjoy my life.

I am filled with light

Inner peace is always accessible to me.

I choose to lead with love in everything that I do.

I welcome spiritual alignment.

Whenever I feel stuck I know I can always choose again.

I make wise decisions for myself.

I want what’s best for me.

I am consistently and actively choosing the highest good for myself (and all)

Answer these Journal Prompts:


What is preventing me from feeling present in this moment?

What specifically is blocking me from feeling good?

If I can't feel my best, how can I focus on feeling better?

What makes me feel good?

How can I help others feel good?

What do I want that I can get by going within?

Comment!

How can this post help you?

What can you learn from this?

How can you apply this information to make it work for you?


  • Spirituality
11 views0 comments
1
2
Untitled_Artwork 3.png
Meditation by the Sea
E8685E10-CD26-40EF-BB61-9BAFEBA8C5E5.jpe
6B39A13C-6660-48A9-9014-A7033F8C4B1F.jpe
58B5C5F9-9B26-4349-BB09-977024799ADA.jpe
Painting
Home
Mindfulness
All Posts
Journalling
Spirituality
Yoga & Mediation
Art & Creativity
Entrepreneurship

©2018 created with Wix